Motor vehicle noise management

ABSTRACT

A device and method that is configured to control the operation of a motor vehicle cabin active sound management (ASM) system that uses an ASM controller to control operation of one or more sound transducers that transmit audio signals in the cabin so as to alter vehicle powertrain-related sounds in the cabin, wherein the motor vehicle further comprises a mobile telephone system that is configured to receive incoming mobile telephone calls and transmit outgoing mobile telephone calls. The device can include a controller that is configured to receive from the mobile telephone system an indication that a mobile telephone call is incoming or an outgoing call is being initiated. After receiving the indication, the subject controller commands the ASM controller to cause operation of one or more sound transducers such that the level of vehicle powertrain-related sounds in the cabin is reduced.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/767,540 filed on Feb. 14, 2013.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to the management of noise in a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Many motor vehicles include hands-free mobile telephone systems that areenabled to receive and transmit mobile telephone calls using microphonesand loudspeakers in the vehicle cabin along with appropriate usercontrols. Motor vehicles may also include active sound managementsystems to alter engine-related sounds in the vehicle cabin. Thesesystems can be used to reduce or cancel powertrain sounds (e.g., engineharmonics) and/or enhance engine harmonics.

SUMMARY

Active sound management (ASM) systems for motor vehicles are used tomanage powertrain-related sounds. One type of ASM system is an engineharmonic cancellation (EHC) system that uses the vehicle's audio systemto produce a signal that is acoustically opposite to undesirable enginesounds in order to reduce such sounds. Another type of ASM system is anengine harmonic enhancement (EHE) system that uses information from theengine and the vehicle to generate signals that enhance or modify thespectrum of select powertrain sounds, e.g., to provide smooth or sportypowertrain sounds inside the cabin. In the present disclosure, acontroller (which is typically but not necessarily part of the audiohead unit) is configured such that when a mobile telephone call is beingmade or received the subject controller commands the existing motorvehicle ASM system controller to cause operation of in-cabin transducerssuch that the level of powertrain-related sounds in the cabin isreduced. This quiets the cabin and so makes the telephone call easier toconduct. When the subject controller is used along with an EHC system,the controller can be configured to turn on the EHC system when a phonecall is initiated or received. Or, the controller can be configured tochange the cancellation target of an active EHC system when a call isinitiated or received, so as to reduce the noise. This noise reductioncan in some cases be limited to a focal seating position. When thesubject controller is used along with an EHE system, when a telephonecall is initiated or received the subject controller is configured toturn off the EHE system or reduce the level of sound put out by the EHEsystem.

This disclosure features a device that is configured to control theoperation of a motor vehicle cabin active sound management (ASM) systemthat uses an ASM controller to control operation of one or more soundtransducers that transmit audio signals in the cabin so as to altervehicle powertrain-related sounds in the cabin, wherein the motorvehicle further comprises a mobile telephone system that is configuredto receive incoming mobile telephone calls and transmit outgoing mobiletelephone calls. The device can include a controller that is configuredto receive from the mobile telephone system an indication that a mobiletelephone call is incoming or an outgoing call is being initiated. Afterreceiving the indication the subject controller commands the ASMcontroller to cause operation of one or more sound transducers such thatthe level of vehicle powertrain-related sounds in the cabin is reduced.

The subject controller can be part of a motor vehicle audio head unit.The ASM system can be used to reduce engine harmonics sounds in thecabin, and the subject controller can be configured to command the ASMcontroller to cause the sound transducers to reduce engine harmonicssounds in the cabin. The subject controller can also be configured toreceive an indication that a user desires to quiet the cabin and inresponse command the ASM controller to cause the sound transducers toreduce engine harmonics sounds in the cabin. The indication that a userdesires to quiet the cabin can emanate from a user-controlled switch.The ASM system can be responsive to an engine control system thatprovides to the ASM system an input signal that is related to a rotationof the engine. As one non-limiting example the input signal can berelated to the engine revolutions per minute (RPM).

In cases where the motor vehicle cabin has a plurality of seatinglocations the controller can be configured to command the ASM controllerto cause the sound transducers to reduce engine harmonics sounds at onesuch seating location, which can be but need not be the driver's seat.The ASM system may be used to enhance engine harmonics sounds in thecabin, and the subject controller may be configured to command the ASMcontroller to cause the sound transducers to reduce or eliminateenhanced engine harmonics sounds.

The disclosure also features a method for controlling the operation of amotor vehicle cabin active sound management (ASM) system that uses anASM controller to control operation of one or more sound transducersthat transmit audio signals in the cabin so as to alter vehiclepowertrain-related sounds in the cabin, wherein the motor vehiclefurther comprises a mobile telephone system that is configured toreceive incoming mobile telephone calls and transmit outgoing mobiletelephone calls. The method contemplates receiving from the mobiletelephone system an indication that a mobile telephone call is incomingor an outgoing call is being initiated. After receiving the indication,the ASM controller is commanded to cause operation of one or more soundtransducers such that the level of vehicle powertrain-related sounds inthe cabin is reduced.

The subject controller can be part of a motor vehicle audio head unit.The ASM system can be used to reduce engine harmonics sounds in thecabin, and the ASM controller can be commanded to cause the soundtransducers to reduce engine harmonics sounds in the cabin. The methodcan include receiving an indication that a user desires to quiet thecabin and in response commanding the ASM controller to cause the soundtransducers to reduce engine harmonics sounds in the cabin. Theindication that a user desires to quiet the cabin can emanate from auser-controlled switch. The ASM system may be responsive to an enginecontrol system that provides to the ASM system an input signal that isrelated to a rotation of the engine. As a non-limiting example the inputsignal may be related to the engine revolutions per minute (RPM).

In situations where the motor vehicle cabin has a number of seatinglocations the ASM controller can be commanded to cause the soundtransducers to reduce engine harmonics sounds at one such seatinglocation. The one seating location may be but need not be the driver'sseat. The ASM system can be used to enhance engine harmonics sounds inthe cabin, in which case the ASM controller can be commanded to causethe sound transducers to reduce or eliminate the engine harmonics soundenhancement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing is a block diagram of an example of a system that includesan example of the device disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Elements of the drawing are shown and described as discrete elements ina block diagram. These may be implemented as one or more of analogcircuitry or digital circuitry. Alternatively, or additionally, they maybe implemented with one or more microprocessors executing softwareinstructions. The software instructions can include digital signalprocessing instructions. Operations may be performed by analog circuitryor by a microprocessor executing software that performs the equivalentof the analog operation. Signal lines may be implemented as discreteanalog or digital signal lines, as a discrete digital signal line withappropriate signal processing that is able to process separate signals,and/or as elements of a wireless communication system.

When processes are represented or implied in the block diagram, thesteps may be performed by one element or a plurality of elements. Thesteps may be performed together or at different times. The elements thatperform the activities may be physically the same or proximate oneanother, or may be physically separate. One element may perform theactions of more than one block. Audio signals may be encoded or not, andmay be transmitted in either digital or analog form. Conventional audiosignal processing equipment and operations are in some case omitted fromthe drawing.

The drawing is a block diagram of an example of a system 10 thatincludes an example of the device disclosed herein, and accomplishes anexample of the methods disclosed herein. System 10 is part of a motorvehicle which includes a motor vehicle cabin 30 that has soundtransducers 32 and one or more microphones 34. The sound transducers aretypically used, at least in part, for producing audio signals in cabin30. Either existing audio system sound transducers or dedicated soundtransducers can be used in system 10. The microphone or microphones canbe used to detect sound in the cabin; such microphones can be used in anexisting active sound management (ASM) system and/or can be part of theexisting mobile telephone system 16, wherein they are located in motorvehicle cabin 30 and used to pick up the voice of the person using ahands-free telephone system. Mobile telephone system 16 includes systemcontroller 18 and transceiver 20 that is operatively connected totransmitting and receiving antenna 22.

ASM system 12 includes ASM controller 14. System 12 communicates withaudio head unit 50 that has audio head unit controller 52. System 12also communicates with engine control system 60; engine control system60 is an existing motor vehicle computer system that manages theoperation of the engine and transmission. System 60 reports relevantdata to system 12 that is useful to the vehicle's EHC or EHE system;such data may include, for example, RPM, throttle position, torque, gearand cylinder/hybrid/electric operational mode. Such signals can be used(along with cabin microphone signals) by an EHC system to generateengine harmonics-cancelling audio signals as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,194,873 and 8,280,073, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference. Such signals can also be used by an EHE system togenerate powertrain-enhancing audio signals as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 8,320,581 and US Patent Application Publication No. 20012/0177214,the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Head unit controller 52 is typically the master device of a MOST networkthat is present in the motor vehicle. Typically, the MOST network uses aring topology and synchronous data communication to transport audio,video, voice and data signals. The ring topology is not shown in thedrawing but could be used. The network could have other configurationssuch as a star configuration, or could be enabled in manners other thanMOST as would be apparent to those skilled in the field of automotivedata networks.

ASM system 12 typically uses ASM controller 14 to control operation ofsound transducers 32 so as to alter vehicle powertrain-related sounds inthe cabin. The vehicle powertrain-related sounds are typicallyengine-related sounds and/or transmission-related sounds. ASM system 12can accomplish engine harmonic reduction or cancellation wherein system12 uses information from the engine (e.g., the engine RPM), that istypically derived from engine control system 60, along with microphones34 located in the cabin, and continuously analyzes engine noise. System12 then uses controller 14 that commands the vehicle's sound system toproduce a signal that is acoustically opposite to the undesirable sound.This signal is provided to sound transducers 32 to effectively reducethe undesirable powertrain sounds. In the case of engine harmonicenhancement, the powertrain-related sounds are enhanced or altered so asto accomplish a desired result such as enhancing or modifying thespectrum of select powertrain sounds. For example, EHE can help createmore linear sounds while mitigating or masking sound anomalies. EHEoffers broad sound control.

Controller 52 is configured to receive from mobile telephone system 16an indication that a mobile telephone call is incoming, or an indicationthat an outgoing call is being initiated. This indication is preferablyaccomplished by controller 18 communicating an appropriate signal tocontroller 52. After receipt of the indication that a call is incomingor outgoing, controller 52 is configured to command ASM controller 14 tocause operation of sound transducers 32 such that the level of vehiclepowertrain-related sounds in cabin 30 is reduced. In this manner,controller 52 reduces powertrain-related sounds in cabin 30 when atelephone call is incoming or outgoing. The result is that the personmaking or receiving the call has a quieter environment and thus isbetter able to hear the call. Since the environment is quieter, there isalso less powertrain-related sound picked up by the microphone that isconfigured to receive the user's voice as part of a mobile telephonecall transmission; the call is thus clearer to the recipient. Anotherresult is that the vehicle sound system is able to play back thetelephone call at a lower volume, which prevents the system from havingto drive the transducers beyond their normal physical limitations.Distortion and poor intelligibility are thus reduced or eliminated.

In a case where ASM system 12 is used as an EHC system, controller 52may be configured to command controller 14 to enable sound transducers32 so as to reduce or cancel powertrain-related sounds in the cabin. Theresult is that the EHC system can be turned on during a telephone call.Alternatively, when the motor vehicle EHC system is active by default toa particular power train noise target, when a call is initiated orreceived controller 52 can cause the transducers to refocus the noisereduction scheme. As one non-limiting example, during a call the EHCcould be focused on a focal seating position. Or, there could be onedefault EHC setting for a normal driving condition, and a separate EHCsetting that is enabled during a telephone call.

In a case where ASM system 12 is used as an EHE system, controller 52may be configured to command controller 14 to either disable soundtransducers 32 from enhancing powertrain-related sounds in the cabin, orat least to reduce the volume of enhancing sounds outputted bytransducers 32. These sounds are typically engine harmonic sounds butneed not be. The result is that the sound added by the EHE system isturned off or reduced during a telephone call.

System 10 may also include user-activated switch 54 that when activatedsends a signal to controller 52. Switch 54 can be used when the userdesires to quiet the cabin. Typically, this switch would causecontroller 52 to either turn on an EHC system that reducespowertrain-related sounds in the cabin, or the switch may be used tofully turn off or at least reduce the audio output associated with anEHE system, both as described elsewhere herein. Switch 54 couldalternatively or additionally be a telephone system switch that the userpushed or otherwise activated so as to send or receive a mobiletelephone call, and which then enables controller 52 to reduce in-cabinpowertrain sounds as described herein.

System 10 could be designed to reduce powertrain-related sounds at oneor more desired or focal locations in vehicle cabin 30. The locationcould be the vehicle location that is designed for the presumed user ofmobile telephone system 16. This may commonly be the driver's position,or in the case of a livery vehicle the VIP position which is usually ina rear seat. Alternatively, the powertrain active sound managementsystem can be enabled to reduce powertrain-related sounds at more thanone seat location, or the entire motor vehicle cabin.

The various features of the disclosure could be enabled in differentmanners than those described herein, and could be combined in mannersother than those described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a first signalthat indicates that an outgoing telephone call is being initiated; andin response to the first signal, generating a second signal that, whenprocessed by a controller of an active sound management (ASM) system fora motor vehicle, where the ASM system is adapted to command a soundsystem of the motor vehicle to provide signals to a vehicle soundtransducer, causes the ASM system to cause the sound transducer to beginto emit sound that reduces powertrain-related sounds at one or moreseating positions within a cabin of the motor vehicle that includes aplurality of seating positions.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theASM system comprises an engine harmonic cancellation system that is setto a first powertrain noise target when the motor vehicle is inoperation, and wherein the second signal causes the ASM system to reducethe powertrain-related sounds at the one or more seating positions fromthe first powertrain noise target to a second, different powertrainnoise target.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ASM system comprisesan engine harmonic enhancement (EHE) system, and wherein the secondsignal causes the ASM system to reduce or eliminate an amount of soundadded by the EHE system at the one or more seating positions.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the second signal, when processed by thecontroller of the ASM, causes the ASM system to cause one or more soundtransducers in the cabin to begin to emit sound that reduces thepowertrain-related sounds at a seating position of a driver of the motorvehicle.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal, whenprocessed by the controller of the ASM, causes the ASM system to disableone or more sound transducers in the cabin from emitting sound thatenhances engine harmonics at a driver's seating position within thecabin.
 6. An audio head unit comprising: a controller operable to:receive a first signal that indicates the initiation of an outgoingtelephone call; and in response to the first signal, generate a secondsignal that, when processed by a controller of an active soundmanagement (ASM) system for a motor vehicle, where the ASM system isadapted to command a sound system of the motor vehicle to providesignals to a vehicle sound transducer, causes the ASM system to causethe sound transducer to begin to emit sound that reducespowertrain-related sounds at one or more seating positions within acabin of the motor vehicle that includes a plurality of seatingpositions.
 7. The audio head unit of claim 6, wherein the ASM systemcomprises an engine harmonic cancellation system that is set to a firstpowertrain noise target when the motor vehicle is in operation, andwherein the second signal causes the ASM system to reduce thepowertrain-related sounds at the one or more seating positions from thefirst powertrain noise target to a second, different powertrain noisetarget.
 8. The audio head unit of claim 6, wherein the ASM systemcomprises an engine harmonic enhancement (EHE) system, and wherein thesecond signal causes the ASM system to reduce or eliminate an amount ofsound added by the EHE system at the one or more seating positions. 9.The audio head unit of claim 6, wherein the second signal, whenprocessed by the controller of the ASM, causes the ASM system to causeone or more sound transducers in the cabin to begin to emit sound thatreduces the powertrain-related sounds at a seating position of a driverof the motor vehicle.
 10. The audio head unit of claim 6, wherein thesecond signal, when processed by the controller of the ASM, causes theASM system to disable one or more sound transducers in the cabin fromemitting sound that enhances engine harmonics at a driver's seatingposition within the cabin.
 11. A system comprising: an active soundmanagement (ASM) system for a motor vehicle where the ASM system isadapted to command a sound system of the motor vehicle to providesignals to a vehicle sound transducer; an audio head unit that includesa controller operable to: receive a first signal that indicates theinitiation of an outgoing telephone call; and in response to the firstsignal, generate a second signal that, when processed by a controller ofthe ASM system, causes the ASM system to cause the sound transducer tobegin to emit sound that reduces powertrain-related sounds at one ormore seating positions within a cabin of the motor vehicle that includesa plurality of seating positions.
 12. The system of claim 11, furthercomprising: a user-activated switch within the cabin of the motorvehicle, the user-activated switch being operable to generate a thirdsignal that, when processed by the controller of the audio head unit,causes the controller of the audio head unit to generate a fourth signalthat, when processed by the controller of the ASM system, causes the ASMsystem to cause the sound transducer to begin to emit sound that reducespowertrain-related sounds within the cabin of the motor vehicle.
 13. Thesystem of claim 11, further comprising: a mobile telephone systemoperable to initiate outgoing telephone calls, and wherein thecontroller of the audio head unit is operable to receive the firstsignal from the mobile telephone system.